Health & Lifestyle: Creating A Plastic-Free Dental / Oral Hygiene Routine

With routine dental appointments now cancelled until further notice in the UK due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's become more important than ever to establish a good daily dental routine at home to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Here are some of the best natural dental products on the market that will also help you to go plastic-free with your routine at the same time!

One Small Step - Swap Your Plastic Toothbrush for a Bamboo One

If you only make one change, make sure it's this one - simply swap your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one - super easy! Plastic toothbrushes are a major contributor to the growing pollution that's clogging up our oceans with over 3.6 billion of them thrown away worldwide; that's an enormous amount. Luckily, bamboo toothbrushes offer a biodegradable and sustainable alternative to this problem so when it comes to replacing your current toothbrush, why not make the switch? Woobamboo has bamboo toothbrushes for the whole family with prices from £4.49 (link).

No More Plastic Packaging - Buy Your Dental Floss In Refillable Glass

All dentists recommend flossing at least once a day as part of a good oral hygiene routine, but did you know that most plastic containers of dental floss are not made from recyclable materials? Many are simply thrown away with the usual bathroom waste, but you can now purchase your dental floss in glass thanks to Organically Epic. Their vegan-friendly dental floss is infused with Charcoal to remove stains and it has a refreshing peppermint flavour. You can also purchase refills to reduce packaging waste further and one pack will last around 3 months (£5.25, link). 

Bye Bye Plastic Interdental Brushes - Swap To Sustainable Bamboo Instead

I've been looking for a sustainable alternative to plastic interdental brushes for a long time and I was beyond happy to finally come across this nifty assorted pack from Woobamboo. Featuring a mix of interdental brush sizes, these are made from 97.6% biodegradable material including eco-friendly bamboo, so this is another easy swap to make (12 pack, £6.99, link). 

The New Natural Plastic-Free Toothpastes

Plastic-free toothpastes have been popping up on my beauty radar for a while now and a growing number of natural brands are bringing them to the market. I've tried several of them from various brands in a range of formats such as powders, solid bars and jars of pastes, and I have to admit that the latter has worked the best for me. I've been enjoying using the Sensitive Natural Toothpaste from Ben & Anna since my last plastic tube ran out and it has a lovely refreshing flavour, with a gentle but protective formula that's been specially created for sensitive teeth (100ml, £8.95, link).

A Glass Alternative To Plastic Mouthwash Bottles

Also from Ben & Anna, I discovered the matching Sensitive Natural Mouthwash which utilises natural ingredients such as Sea Buckthorn, Aloe Vera and Sage to disinfect, soothe and protect your whole mouth. The glass bottle definitely adds an extra touch of luxury to my bathroom sink! (500ml, £10.95, link).

Introduce A Stainless Steel Tongue Cleaner 

For the most optimum oral hygiene, the practice of using a Tongue Cleaner has been popular in Ayurveda and natural health circles for thousands of years, yet I've only recently started to see more and more people in the West embrace them. This stainless steel option from Organically Epic helps to get rid of bacteria and dead cells that build up on your tongue, which in turn improves your sense of taste and banishes bad breath at the same time. With a lifetime guarantee, it's hygienic and easy to clean, whilst this handy 2-pack is perfect for you and your partner/family member (£6.15, link).  

Time On Your Hands? Try Oil-Pulling

Oil-Pulling is another long-standing Ayurvedic tradition which has become popular in the last couple of years and if you find yourself with lots of time on your hands in the mornings now, why not give it a try?! The general concept is based on Coconut Oil's prized natural antibacterial properties which help to draw out any build-up of toxins and pathogens, leaving your whole mouth cleaner than it's ever been before. It's also known to naturally whiten your teeth as an added bonus! 

To take part, simply add a teaspoon full of Coconut Oil to your mouth and move it around with your tongue, making sure to push it between the teeth - do not swallow it! Swish it around for 15-20 minutes and then spit it out into the bathroom bin (never spit it into the sink as the oil will solidify and cause blocked pipes!). It takes some time to get used to but I find it oddly satisfying! Using an organic, raw, cold-pressed Coconut Oil such as this one from Kiki Health will help you to reap all the benefits (500ml, £13.95, link).

Have you switched to any plastic-free alternatives recently?

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Introducing: My EcoBox - May 2019 review #FreshStart

Adopting a more environmentally friendly and sustainable lifestyle can seem a bit daunting or overwhelming at first, especially if you're new to the concept or haven't really given much thought about the changes that you can make before. To help you on your way, I'm delighted to introduce a brand new subscription box called My EcoBox who released their first ever box last month.

My EcoBox is a monthly subscription box that basically makes sustainable living super easy by sending you useful products to help you to reduce your waste and personal impact on the planet. These products are the kinds of things that you'll likely use every day so that the changes really do add up, and they'll blend seamlessly into your daily routine like they've always been there. Honestly, it couldn't be easier to go green in 2019!

Last week saw the exciting launch of My EcoBox's first box and I was delighted to be sent one to review. The box is entirely plastic-free and themed 'Fresh Start' to get you started on your zero waste journey, so let's take a closer look at the contents.

Save Some Green Tooth Tabs 

Did you know that most toothpaste tubes (the standard soft plastic, flexible ones) can't be easily recycled and that many councils in the UK can't collect them for recycling with the rest of your plastic waste? Considering that the majority of us brush our teeth at least twice a day, switching to a plastic-free alternative has never been more important and these Tooth Tabs are a brilliant idea!

To use them, simply pop one in your mouth and chew until it feels smooth, then brush your teeth as normal. They're formulated with fluoride like regular toothpaste and are perfect for travelling with because they're solid so they won't affect your carry on liquid allowance at the airport. 

Save Some Green Stainless Steel Angled Straws with Cleaning Brush 

Get a head start on the plastic straw ban with these chic and stylish Stainless Steel Angled Straws. These reusable straws can be used in all of your favourite hot and cold drinks and this set of four comes complete with a cleaning brush - another easy plastic-free swap for the whole family!

Bliss Botanicals Joy Soap Vanilla and Shea Butter 

I absolutely love the fact that solid bars of soap have come back into vogue again because I've been using them for years as a hand soap by all of the sinks in the house. This particularly lovely bar of soap is made by Bliss Botanicals and it smells so, so good - like something that you would pick up from Lush. Ditch the liquid soap dispenser and replace it with one of these for silky soft hands, or use it in the shower or bath.

rCup Reusable Travel Cup 

I'm so pleased that My EcoBox has included a Reusable Travel Cup in their launch box because it's one of those products that I constantly see people talking about purchasing on social media, but then they don't get around to it. A staggering 2.5 billion takeaway coffee cups are thrown away every year just in the UK alone, and it's estimated that up to 98% of these can't be recycled due to the plastic lining in the cups, which just adds to the growing landfill waste problem.

This rCup is the world's first insulated travel cup to be made from used coffee cups. It's also 100% leak-proof and features a nifty push open/close mechanism so that busy commuters have ease of access to their drink when they're juggling phones and everything else. Dishwasher safe and BPA free, make sure that you never leave home without it!

Greener Habits Co. Bamboo Toothbrush

Last but not least, there's a Bamboo Toothbrush from Greener Habits Co. These eco-friendly toothbrushes have become a popular plastic-free alternative as bamboo is an amazing sustainable crop that's also 100% biodegradable after use. It's estimated that we use over 300 toothbrushes in our lifetime, with most of these ending up in our rivers and oceans as plastic waste, so this is another super easy daily switch that you can make. Each Bamboo Toothbrush purchase also supports the Friend Farm Animal Sanctuary too - nice one Greener Habits Co!

My EcoBox* is a subscription box that costs £23 per month. To find out more and to subscribe, visit myecobox.co.uk

What do you think of My EcoBox?

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March Beauty Favourites

How is it April already?! I discovered a lot of new products during March, but here are my top beauty picks that I'd recommend getting your hands on.

ILIA Vivid Foundation & Perfecting Buffing Brush*

I've been loving a natural, healthy looking, slightly dewy base at the moment, and ILIA's Vivid Foundation has been the perfect choice for achieving this. It's also brilliant for making dull skin look more glowy and it has really great buildable coverage. I've been using it mostly with ILIA's Perfecting Buffing Brush which is a fab little kabuki-style brush, and it buffs and blends everything perfectly. You can check out my more in-depth review of these two here. 

Bean Body Facial Exfoliant* (100ml, £14.95, link)

Whilst you can technically use coffee-based body scrubs on your face, I personally find them a little too harsh for that area as I have sensitive skin, so I was pleased to see Bean Body bring out a dedicated facial exfoliator back in February. I've used their body scrubs many times (in fact, I have one or two of their packets currently on the go in my bathroom!), and I now love this new exfoliator as it's much more gentle for the face, yet shares many of the same beneficial, natural ingredients as the body scrubs do. A good one to use first thing in the morning to perk up your skin and make it look more awake!

DHC Mascara Perfect Pro Double Protection* (5g, £15.90, link) 

I'm sure you've spotted this mascara doing the rounds on the blogosphere lately, and yes the hype is real! It's gotten a lot of attention since Emma Watson named it her favourite mascara (and apparently it's the only one she uses on herself), and being a dedicated Watson/Mascara fan, I obviously had to try it for myself. It features a clever kind of water-resistant tube technology which basically means that it gives you long, defined, black lashes that won't smudge or flake - yet you can remove it with just warm water at the end of the day. Genius stuff! I also really like the skinny, small wand for applying on my lower lashes too.

Naturally Tribal IYA Women's Body Food* (150ml, £16, link)

I experienced a really horrible eczema flare-up last month and this pot of moisturising goodness definitely helped to calm everything down. It's a super thick and rich, all-purpose moisturiser that's mainly made from high-grade Shea Butter and Coconut Oil, and has a little Sweet Orange Essential Oil in it for a subtle pleasant scent. It's done an amazing job of keeping my dry skin hydrated and really helps to soothe any inflammation or irritation. All of Naturally Tribal's products have ingredients that are sourced ethically and fairly from the women's tribes in Esan in Nigeria which helps their families and the local communities to become more self-sufficient.

F.E.T.E Bamboo Toothbrush* (£5, link)

I've mentioned on here before about the eco-friendly benefits of swapping your disposable plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one, so I was pleased to come across F.E.T.E (From Earth To Earth) who are a small UK business that currently makes sustainable toothbrushes. These bamboo ones are naturally antibacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal, and feature 100% biodegradable nylon bristles. An easy way to make a small, but significant, green swap in your life and stop another plastic toothbrush going straight into a landfill site! Available singularly or in a family-sized pack of four for £15.

Which beauty products have you been lovely recently?

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